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The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has been lambasted by the media, Congress and the gun lobby in the wake of the failed Operation Fast and Furious. It is the most criticized law enforcement agency in the United States today and yet has one of the most important, necessary and difficult briefs. It must enforce firearm laws in the United States, a country with an emotionally charged tradition of gun ownership. …

Former Secretary of State James A. Baker, III, honorary chair of the Baker Institute, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sat down with journalist Charlie Rose on June 20 for a wide-ranging conversation on U.S. foreign policy. Baker said that the biggest threat to America right now isn’t Iran or China, but the need to “get our economic house in order.” Clinton agreed, saying that much of her time as secretary of state is spent “reassuring” government and business leaders that the U.S. economy is improving. …

On Monday, June 4, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly and the city’s five district attorneys announced their support of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposal to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana in public view. Cuomo touted his proposal as a matter of racial justice, noting that police “were wasting time, resources and goodwill making tens of thousands of unnecessary arrests,” disproportionately targeting blacks and Latinos. …

We have grown accustomed to the role of large companies, such as Boeing and Lockheed Martin, in successful space launches. But with the nearly flawless debut of SpaceX, and with the arrival of other smaller companies on the scene, we are again seeing the benefits of competition, as new companies bring innovation, flexibility and, more importantly, reduced costs to space operations. …

President Obama’s State of the Union address Tuesday was given in a context that underscored that the Republicans have no monopoly on resurrection. As the fortunes of Republican candidates have routinely skated to the precipice and back, so too has the president courted his political demise.

Written off only a few months ago by pundits and not a few voters, Obama’s prospects have been enhanced by several recent developments, including the killing of Sept. 11 mastermind Osama Bin Laden — an event Republican Mitch Daniels respectfully acknowledged in the Republican rebuttal to the state of the union. President Obama skillfully used this accomplishment at the beginning and end of his speech, not just to applaud our military but also as a nationally unifying moment that could teach us something about fighting our economic challenges.

Nurturing the next generation of policymakers was a key focus in 2011, as the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy offered students the chance to participate in internships, events and private meetings with notable statesmen and scholars. In 2012, the Baker Institute will expand these opportunities by engaging more students in the important work of public policy. …

Given the recent record-breaking drought and heat our state has experienced, water—how much we have and how clean it is—has never been more relevant. We are at an important intersection right now, where precious resources like water meet humankind and our growing needs. Where do we stand at this intersection? When it comes to water, we actually have a crystal ball, and it shows us plenty. …